The Kerala chapter of the Indian Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists, an organisation representing professional and academic pathologists, has sought steps to improve working conditions at labs for better diagnostic results.
The job of the pathologist is to give diagnostic information to patients and clinicians. Through accurate lab testing, they help diagnose chronic diseases and manage their treatment.
Association functionaries such G. Rajan, Ani Praveen, K.P. Aravindan, and A. Gouri told the media on Wednesday that all Level-2 and Level-3 labs should have an in-house pathologist as a full-time employee. The staff pattern proposed in the Clinical Establishment Act should be strictly followed. Only a qualified pathologist should report procedures such as peripheral blood smear tests and fine needle aspiration cytology. All abnormal Complete Blood Count tests should be seen and commented on by such experts. Internal quality control should be regularly run for all tests and must be supervised by a pathologist or a qualified bio-chemist.
